WE Shall Be As GODS
4th Testament – Children of Exile
By K.R.Columbus
Copyright 2011 K.R.Columbus
Smashwords Edition
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Antiquarian Age Books
By K.R.Columbus
(Dates and titles can change at any time)
-We Shall be as Gods Series-
1st Testament - Vestigial Dream
2nd Testament - The Weaver and the Herder
3rd Testament - Shadows of Me
4th Testament - Children of Exile
5th Testament – Beyond Destiny (January 2012)
-Sodom’s X Duology-
A Song for the End
The World Ends for You (November 2011)
-Hyper Speed Inertia Series-
Battle-Submarine Yamato
-MAGNA MAQUINA Series-
The Mall
The Greatest Machine of All
-YAKUZA RONDO Series-
KUMA/GORO
Hall of the Mountain King
-Young Adult’s Books-
-The Treasures of Shamarkand Series-
Wanderers to Shamarkand
Daughter of the Gods
Carnival of Shadows
The Mechanical Labyrinth (December 2011)
-Totemic Haven Series-
Totemic Haven
WildChild (October 2011)
WE Shall Be As GODS
4th Testament – Children of Exile
By K.R.Columbus
-Spirits of this nethermost Abyss, Chaos, and ancient Night, I come Alone, and without guide, half lost, I seek, What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds Confine-
Paradise Lost by John Milton
Chapter 1
-Alain Rainhearth-
The black pyramid stood there as if it had been there since the beginning of time, crowned by lightning, and its top clouded with dense clouds filled with menacing condensation. Alain stood flailing against a cold wind that like knives pierced him without remorse yet he stood defiant looking straight at the pyramid with bloodshot eyes accompanied by heavy breathing. Lightning stroke a dry bush a few meters away from his vintage point, and in instants it was engulfed in liquid flames of beautiful yet burning color. His troubled gaze was caught by the burning bush, and for a whole minute his mind could rest in idle thinking, yet like a howling monster the black pyramid called to him in silent screams.
Extending his left arm he allowed the heat from the flames to touch him, he anticipated warmth, and some comfort but all he could find was loneliness, fear, and a terrible deep cold feeling that would not go away as if it had been born within him from the very moment he drew his first breath. The sweet smell of sandalwood came to him, and then he realized that bush was sandalwood.
Please, please, let her be all right. Gods please hear my hollow prayers; see the light that is hidden in them. Let them be alive.
Leaving the burning bush behind he kept stumbling his way forward, his feet were almost bloodied for running miles, and miles of desert in search of that Pyramid, and his pain had become a part of him he couldn’t be parted with. How long had it been? The truth he can’t remember anymore, and the wasteland that has turned his mouth to sand now stands like a deathtrap behind him, covered in darkness, and wind like a solemn guardian watching the events that would stay with that young man forever.
A strong wind coming from the desert almost made him fall to the sand only to be driven to the dust by an even stronger one that made his eyes sting as he raised his beaten torso to face the pyramid, not far he saw his dad’s hovercraft gathering sand, and that made his heart jump. He tried to swallow but it was too painful to do so, instead he was caught in a coughing fit.
Stand up Alain, please stand up… I know I’m strong enough, this is a test, my dad always said the dark places tests in our path to see what hides inside of us, I know I can do this. I can’t just stay, and see them die… Gods why wouldn’t they believe me.
Stumbling into a run he stood, and ran with a force of will he had spent days ago, and tracing the pyramid he found the recently excavated entrance, a sudden surge of fear made him sob as he saw thousands of broken statues of winged beings littering the surroundings of the entrance. He knew those had been guarding the entrance, he had been there when the pyramid was opened for the first time, he saw the darkness come, and he was one of the first ones to witness the madness as it spread to the surrounding systems. Somehow this place was calling them; it called the Asuras as if luring them.
“You know what is hidden at the depths of that pyramid, and in the tower. You have always known from your dreams. Tell us how to get in, tell us how to open it.”
Alain could still hear that foul voice echoing inside his head, every night it came to him, and every night he tried to hide but every time it asked for the same thing.
“Open the inner sanctum keeper, open it or we will kill her who you love above everyone else in this universe. Deny us this, and she will die along with everyone that you have ever loved.”
He knew, he knew they were coming even before the planetary defense systems detected them, he knew ever since the sky began to cry shooting stars. He had told them not to go into the pyramid, he pleaded for so long that he no longer could tell the words he used or how desperate it all sounded before he was calmed by an injection. Soon after only darkness stood between him, and waking.
Now in front of the pyramid he can’t make himself go in, the fear is too intense, so intense that he can feel his knees trembling slightly. Fear is like a parasite and a drug, it lives of you, and even if you hate it beyond belief you can’t get rid of it no matter how much ill, and blight it is causing you.
Suddenly all sound vanished, the wind made no sound, the thunder is muted, and even the beating of his heart is nothing more than feeling, this is the part where he always wakes up, this is the part where everything blanks out, and the fear becomes a mortal pain.
A single lingering scream is heard; it resonates into his heart, and dwells inside of him in such a way that he turns cold, and everything vanishes, he knows what comes next he lives thru it, and survived yet nothing can make him remember. Only this nightmare of things past make him even try to get to that pyramid where his life changed, where he changed…but no, nothing will make him go in.
He whimpered, and the guy next to him hit him with his elbow.
Alain woke breathing forcefully, and pressed his pale face against the pristine surface of the viewing window next to his passenger seat. No use. Outside was darker than the already dark inside’s of the Sidhe he was in, and no matter how hard he squinted his eyes he couldn’t make anything from outside. Purple lightning pierced the sky, and light filled his vision, a vision of water drops, and shades of fading color. For a moment there he caught his own reflection on the small window, and as his breath was left behind in condensation against it the Sidhe began to shake violently, all the other students seated on the other seats around him began to voice their fears, gasps here, and there, a yelp in one corner followed by a hushed scream… still he remained silent as the lights inside the Sidhe faltered for ten seconds.
Even as I close my eyes I can but wonder… What are they so afraid of? These Sidh are made to withstand more than this. Yet, yet as the atmosphere changes making my hair stand at end and my stomach lurch I feel detached. As if somehow I had lived this before…somewhere.
One wide eyed blink in total darkness, and then another one as the lights came on again restoring some of the peace among the students.
“See, nothing is going to happen Ghini, it’s just a storm.” A boy said to a girl that had been especially tense.
As if someone had lit a fuse the girl turned to the boy, and slapped him on the back of his head.
“Can you be any dumber Ghab? The storms in this planet are…” She never finished what she was about to say.
In that moment the Sidhe began to tilt to the left, not slowly or subtle but as if a great monster had just swallowed it in one deep gulp. The main lights went off all at one leaving only a thin line of blue lights in the ceiling, and a few on the floor marking the path between the seats. The pressure in the chamber felt as if it were pulsating, as if great waves of invisible force came in, and out, and with each one the trembling began to get worse and the sounds louder.
“Ilnosis! We are going to crash!” A boy behind Alain screamed.
I can’t breathe… I can’t breathe… Everything is so loud that it feels muted, distant, all that I can truly hear is my breathing, gasping for something that is not there, feel my despair getting a hold of me… strangling me. I can’t breathe… I feel like something is pulling me forward, if not for my belt I would be…
Blood splattered on his face as the person next to him broke apart against the nearest wall, sending an arc of blood splashing against his face with unexpected fury just as everything went dark.
In the darkness of that hell I saw as the cabin was ripped open, and within a second saw how a girl and a boy my age were dragged by the ragging wings along with their chairs. After a while I closed my eyes, the pain was too much, we were not prepared for this, our planets had no regulation S.B.P suits it was just us against the force of the impact. There before all the destruction ensued I saw something before me, from outside a single black feather had found itself into our Sidhe as it was ripped apart, and for a whole minute the feather was held in mid air a few inches away from my face as the Sidhe tried to stabilize the pressure in the cabin against the wind coming in.
Alain looked at the feather, his eyes faltering under the force of drawing impact that gravity had set upon them, his purple eyes flickered as he held on to his seatbelt. He could almost feel the wind, and snow picking his skinny body off that seat, and sending it asunder into the dark night outside, but even so as weak, and scared as he was he held on. Without warning his ears popped painfully as he saw the feather being taken away by the wind, and just before it vanished completely from sight he saw there in the darkness the looming shape of a white peaked mountain range. The Sidhe made a sickening sound, and then an explosion was heard.
All went dark.
………….
“Is anyone alive in there? Hello? Can anyone hear me?”
The voice sounded distant as if it was deep, very deep inside a cave, but still Alain could hear it. For a moment he didn’t know what happened, he had no memory of it all, only the pain, and the feeling of being trapped. He tried to move but something had him pinned against a very cold surface, and there were no other sounds, only the smell of blood, and his own breathing.
“Help! I’m here! I’m trapped somewhere! Help!!” Alain could tell his voice was cracked, and full of pain, and for an instant he felt like it wasn’t his own.
A young voice was heard soon after. “Sir, someone is alive. I’ll be damned sir one of the boys is alive.”
“Shut up idiot, and help me find him. Boy! Boy talk to me, I need to know where you are. Tell me your name, your age, and where are you from?” This voice sounded older, and more experienced.
“My name, ouch…Mmm my name is Alain Rainhearth. I’m sixteen years old, and come from Luxor 4.”
“Luxor 4, I’m sorry to hear about your planet, my planet was destroyed too by the Asuras. Alain tell me something about yourself, we are opening the hull of the Sidhe so close your eyes.”
“I don’t know what to tell. I’m nothing special…” Alain began to sob, all his muscles felt tattered.
“Just keep talking, anything is all right.”
“My father was an archeologist, so was my mother. Since I was very small I have traveled across the Luxor system along with my father, and my dream was to be like him.”
“Yes, the Rainhearth family, I heard about them a year ago papa.” The younger man said referring to the older man.
“Pay more respect idiot of a son. Sorry Alain, my son is a little different. I’m sorry about the loss of your family.”
“How did you know?” Alain asked.
“You have been speaking in past tense, and your uncle Sidain Rainhearth gave a lot of money to the school board to find your remains.”
“Remains?” Alain repeated, wondering about what he was missing in the whole picture.
“So far young master Alain you are the only survivor of the crash. I’m so sorry.”
“I...” Alain was speechless.
“Ok papa I found the link joint I’m opening her.”
“Alain do as I say, and close your eyes, leave them closed. It is still night so is going to be cold.”
“Yes sir.” Alain had his eyes closed the whole time he didn’t had to be told to close them, but still he pressed them harder.
Thag, and Thareno Corinthos, father, and son ordained to guard the flora, and fauna of planet Angkhor, a nature reserve only used for an elite school, and wildlife reserve of the fabled Bheredoor beast. The Bheredoor a mammal closely resembling a six legged bear of pure white or pure blue color with horns was almost completely hunted into extinction on the last 400 years because a 99 percent of its body can be used or eaten. Bheredoor soup is a known aphrodisiac, and a plate can cost a fortune in the black market but back then people didn’t know that the Bheredoor were almost as intelligent as a human being. After their intelligence was proven the whole planet was made a reserve, and the Corinthos family was chosen for the task of protecting. Thag even if proud of his mission he still urged his son to study mechanics among other things he could learn from the Kvasir networks database.
Thareno pressed a few combinations on a detachable panel he had installed in the wreck of the Sidhe, and in a few seconds the Cemica panel came off with a gentle hiss. Alain was bedded on a bed of blood, and broken up Cemica panels; next to him the many chairs could be seen littered alongside severed body parts of what once had been one of the other passengers.
“Don’t open your eyes, Alain, can you move?” Thag asked Alain after seeing the worry in his son’s eyes.
“I’m not sure, I haven’t tried yet; everything hurts.” He tried to move but the pain was so sharp that he had to stop, Thareno noticed this.
“Ok I’m going to help you, stay really still. We don’t know if you have any broken bones.” Thareno said as he approached Alain slowly.
“No, I’ll try to move, I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You are no burden; I mean how much you weight like 90 pounds?”
“95 but I think I can move. If I had fallen in one of the ruins in Luxor I would be on my own. I would have to find a way to…” He tried to move but instead he moaned in pain as his breathing became erratic.
“First young one you are not in Luxor, and you are not alone, and I believe you wouldn’t go alone to a dangerous place.”
“True…”
I know they told me not to open my eyes, I know they did but the pain was such that I couldn’t help it. Thareno smiled at me as I did, his face had a smudge of blood on the left side, and I realized in a moment that it was my blood. He was heavyset but strong with a newly set beard, and shaggy hair that made his sad eyes look like a puppy’s.
Alain didn’t had to look at Thag much either to realize that these two were father, and son it was like looking at the same person years apart. Both were wearing dark cream colored cargo pants, and dark green vests over brown insulated shirts specially altered with Cemica particles for auto cleaning, and better handling.
The pain was so instance when Thareno embraced me with his broad arms but his body heat was welcomed. I knew I was badly wounded when he pulled me out for the first time, I could feel bone piercing flesh, and the pain was such that I began to feel dizzy.
“Don’t worry Alain you’ll be all right. We will take you to an Ether-loft, and tomorrow you’ll be worrying over accommodations, and finding a place to masturbate in peace like the rest of the boys at Crescent Moon Lake.”
“Dad!” Thareno said a bit blushed.
Resting his head on Thareno’s shoulder Alain managed to see the Sidhe as they were leaving, it was completely destroyed. Not even the Cemica panels left could be reused, and for the first time he realized how much of a miracle it was that he survived for no one else did. Then in penetrating spasms of pain he lost consciousness.
Just as Thag had said by the end of the next day he was seating on the side of the road waiting for someone to pick him up, and take him to the school grounds. That one was a pitiful day it had been raining most of the day, and it was foggy and giving promise of more rain. The dirt road leading to the school was a mud bath. Thareno had volunteered to take him to school but during dawn a poacher warning came, and both father and son had to leave into the wilderness, still they both were very happy to see that Alain was healthy, and walking.
“When you can come, and visit me we can plan something. Here a gift.” Thareno handed him a wooden flute carved with beautiful Bheredoor designs.
“It is so well made, thanks Thareno. I will visit when I can.”
“Please call me Tharen; Thareno is how my dad calls me when he is mad at me.” At this Alain laughed slightly. “Well, hope everything goes well at the school Alain. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
Now seated here at the side of the road I wonder if anyone will actually come pick me up for an hour went by, and no one came, so feeling restless I left the ranger’s house, and followed the road. Within minutes my feet were full of mud, and rain was pouring on me, but somehow after being so close to dying this makes me feel better somehow.
For a moment Alain wonders about his uncle, and how he will react when the news reaches him about him being alive, he probably knows by now, and is plotting another way to make his life more difficult. It was Sidain Rainhearth’s idea to send Alain to this particular school. With the Asuras attacking every star system, and slowly approaching Exile Earth Angkhor is not the safest of planets to be since it is the closest to Exile Earth, and the ruins of Vagrant Horizon, and what is left of the old Galgallim. Still Alain knows Sidain Rainhearth must have his reasons, he always does, there is not a single moment in his life that man has not plotted into being. The only thing that took him by surprise was the death of his brother Arhain Rainhearth, and his family.
He was so surprised and scared when he saw me for the first time standing in front of his mansion. I could tell he didn’t know what to do with me or how I fit into his plans.
“Odd man…” Alain whispered as he ascended a steep hill covered with trees, and large stones of white color closely resembling limestone.
A constant cold wind began to blow against his face the moment he reached top of that hill, and overlooked what lay beyond, there down on a deep basin formed by thousands of years of erosion stood a small mountain of stone in the middle of a crescent moon lake being fed by three rivers coming from the many white peaked mountain surrounding the lush dark woods around the lake, and there on top of the mountain stood the school defiantly made like an old temple; the perfect mixture of a golden pyramid, and a tower. The Ziggurathon Academy.
Chapter 2
-Twenty Years-
Sheeris stood against a crystal window looking outside at the face of the bay of Arecibo. In the last twenty years many primitive towns have been changing, the whole world was considered primitive compared with the array of technology that flooded in after Earth was taken out of exile by her, and the other Neo Resonants. Still no matter how much she looked at it she could not get used to it, now a doctor in astrobiological genetics, and almost 40 years old she still looks like a teenager thanks to the many advances in medical science the Galgallim gave Earth after the refugees began to pour in, and the fact that being a Resonant keeps her genes from ageing.
“How many today?” She asked looking at the once small fishing town now exponentially becoming a sprawling technological metropolis.
“Well we haven’t finished counting but close to a million, and there are half a dozen refugee Sidhe waiting relocation.”
“That many…” She looked at the mountain beyond, and saw how many Cemica based robots were building a gigantic pyramid next to where the old Arecibo radio telescope used to be; the new building for the Neo Galgallim; Ormuzutra. “Well, have Tokyo 0.2 send supplies to the awaiting Sidhe while we relocate the people we already have waiting in the camps. Has Terra Nova contacted you yet about the funding for the new hospital?”
“Chairman Watanabe haven’t contact us yet. In fact we haven’t known from him in almost five months.”
“Well it was hard for him to take his father’s company maybe they are having difficulties.”
“Don’t know Ms. Devon, Terra Nova industries is the wealthiest subcontracting company on Earth at the moment. If they are having difficulties they are not monetary.”
“I didn’t meant monetary, and please call me Sheeris, anyhow I will probably see him at tonight’s meeting.”
“I’m sorry Ms. Sheeris. There are some reports coming from Damien that he found something in the Middle East, and that he will disclose more details during the meeting. About the meeting, what will be served?”
“Order Pizza, and soda, for old times’ sake.”
“Soda and Pizza?” Her daily planner asked, the voice coming from within Sheeris’ grist watch.
“Just do so…you wouldn’t understand.”
The truth was that none of them have seen each other in months; she knew Ludo was working on the technological research, and investigation division creating new technologies with Lawrence’s help. Damien on his part was with Arlemis investigating ruins, and John should still be flying refugees from the moon to our placement facilities.
“John…” She said while looking at her empty fingers.
At least he comes to me every night. I miss him terribly but I have to understand, everything has changed so much in these past twenty years. I no longer can recognize this island, or any mayor city in the world for that matter, and slowly even the smallest town is becoming something else. To leave Exile had its price, it was a major culture shock, a meeting of old family members in the end both our cultures mixed but mostly they changed us.
For a moment she remembered the times before Endimion was taken inside the Ilnosis, those were simpler times, now everyone has responsibilities, and things to do.
No matter what, all of this building, all these refugees, all of these changes are just preparation for what is to come, for years the Asuras seemed to have disappeared into the Antare region but a few years ago began destroying worlds once again, this time with more precision. With each passing day we become more, and more flooded with people running away from them or that have nowhere else to go. But don’t they know Earth is the Asuras’ main target? Don’t they know all the worlds destroyed are nothing more than them gathering forces for the big attack? I can’t really blame the refugees, we are their ancestors as they are ours, for them is coming back home, and their most holy artifact is here…the Ilnosis.
Since Earth is under such reconstruction there is enough work for everyone, let it be cleaning, constructing or just helping as long as you have a will you have a place on Earth. Earth is mother, and nurturer, and now with the help of the remains of the old Galgallim, and Vagrant Horizon every part of Earth has been used in one way or another, wastes have been turned into agricultural land, and no one was left behind. The idea of a looming enemy that wants you destroyed united Earth’s people like never before, and even if this long time of peace was a blessing it was overshadowed with the promise, and slow approach of the Asuras.
“Well I better get ready for tonight.” She sighed as she looked at the landscape beyond.
………….
A custom made Sidhe sped across the Pacific Ocean at insane speeds.
“Holy tomato salad Sheeris is going to kill us.”
“Don’t worry she will understand John, you had to take a very long detour to pick us up at the airport. I mean, where were you?” Damien said while placing an arm on John’s right shoulder.
“The Moon. Well if I had been there earlier on the first place. We are almost an hour late.” John answered a little worried.
“Lawrence is getting inpatient. He has been texting me for the last half an hour that he is hungry.” A very beautiful young woman in a tight black dress commented; she was seated next to Damien that was behind John.
“Tell your husband to eat a sock, I bet he is cursing us to kingdom come.” Damien said with a smirk.
“Arlemis you can tell him we are almost there.” John said while trying to ignore his sister.
“But brother last time I checked lying is not very nice….we are pretty far away from Tokyo.” She closed her eyes for a moment, and then began to go over some data files in her holocomputer.
Both Damien and Arlemis had changed quite a bit in those twenty years since Earth came out of exile; well at least physically for Damien. He had longer hair held in a pony tail on his back, and was husky instead of chubby because of all the years doing field protoarcheology. On Arlemis case well she was the one to change the most; the years gave her wisdom, a doctorate in protoarcheobiology, and boobs.
“Well I can get us there in five minutes…” John said with a devious voice.
“John what are you thinking?” Damien asked a little scared of the answer.
“Well if when we reach Tokyo I keep aerial traffic lines out of the way along with flight laws.”
“John last time you did that you landed yourself a week in prison, and I had to go get you out with poor Sheeris.” Arlemis said without moving her eyes from her holoscreen that was being projected from her watch.
“Ok do it.” Damien said before crossing his arms.
“What? Are you two insane?” Arlemis asked but she knew she had been ruled out on this one so in silence she checked that she was safely attached to her seat.
Within minutes they reached Tokyo bay, that was the easiest part, but once there the air traffic is divided, and sorted into aerial highways to keep order.
“Look at that part of the bay where it looks like an arch?” John asked Damien.
“Yeah. Kind of looks like a crescent moon doesn’t it?”
“That’s where Sheeris’ underwater lab Aquaria will be. Actually is being built on the moon, and then will be landed there, the lab is so advanced that in case of an emergency it can reach outer space so no civilians get harmed if anything happens. I saw the plans, and they are amazing, floor after floor of research laboratories all connected by transport tubes, and all with a view.”
“Lawrence and Ludo are creating the A.I that will manage the lab.” Arlemis commented.
“Yeah Ludo did say something about the A.I, I think it will be called Betzaida, or Supernova.”
“Boys…” Arlemis face palmed her forehead as they left behind the bay.
Within seconds John made the Sidhe twist its way away from the main traffic lines. The city of Neo Tokyo had never looked this impressive, in the old days before the earthquakes, and tsunamis it had been amazing but the sheer spectacle, and wonder Neo Tokyo is cannot be explained into words easily. The city was a conglomerate of skyscrapers deifying the reign of the clouds, signs, and advertisements fill everything in between with an exotic dance of color.
A bunch of skirts boogie as John passes meters away from a group of school girls returning home after an afternoon of karaoke. Dodging buildings, and signs the Sidhe twirls on its foundations as a security robot noticed what they were doing, and with an explosion of sound followed them. John Saw the bot coming, and dodging his way across traffic lines, and moving signs he managed to get close to the Tokyo Tower area.
“John!!” Both Damien and Arlemis called out as he made the Sidhe pass between the foundations of the Tokyo Tower.
The Foundations were only big enough for them to pass but the security bot stopped right before the pass, and was left there confused, for a few seconds that was all they needed to escape.
“Arlemis where are you guys, Buta is getting inpatient, and Sheeris have been passing up, and down a corridor for the last hour.” Lawrence face popped from Arlemis’ watch.
“Well we are almost there, tell Buta we will land on the back of the building in 2 minutes, and tell him to stop being so grumpy.”
“Ok, I’ll meet you there Arle.” Lawrence smiled at his wife.
………….
Coming down the Sidhe’s ramp Damien held John’s neck on a slight grip while looking at his face.
“John, who was the idiot who gave you a piloting license? I want to meet the mad man in person.”
“What are you talking about Damien? I passed the test fair, and square, and with a shiny star sticker too, because I’m special you know, and now stop hugging me Sheeris might be watching.” He tried to push Damien away.
“Oh please your woman loves me.” Damien said while hugging him harder.
Stepping away from the men Arlemis stood under Terra Nova’s main building, and looked up. She had never seen the building like this, she had seen it months ago before the new upgrades had been installed but Ludo, and Lawrence have been busy making it the most scientifically advance building in the world. When Aquaria is finished here in Tokyo bay, and Ormuzutra finishes remodeling in Arecibo they will be the most advanced, but since Terra Nova’s tower is the main research lab, and headquarter of the contractors it is the most advanced for now.
Months ago Buta had asked Sheeris, and John to move to Terra Nova but they said they would remain in Ormuzutra until Aquaria is finished. Damien and Ludo live in Ormuzutra as well but a week ago Lawrence ended up moving completely to Terra Nova while Arlemis was accompanying Damien to New Sumer where Iraq used to be; having to take a Sidhe every day to get to work was getting to his already diminished nerves.
“A bit pretentious, and has a flair of evil villain secret lab to it, with the huge all Seeing Eye on top, but all in all I like it.” Arlemis said while looking at the top of the building where a huge opened eye had been designed Babylonian style made out of over saturated colorful lights between the words TERRA -O- NOVA.
The building was built using 4 city blocks consisting of 3 gigantic pyramids of golden color surrounding a circular 50 stories tower, and connected underground by 50 underground levels. All in all it looked mightily impressive.
“I knew you’ll like it my love.” She heard a familiar voice in the distance coming from the back entrance of the building.
“Lawrence.”
The first thing she saw was his sexy but yet contained afro, he was dressed with a dark brown jacket with many pockets for keeping tools, a mixture of a leather adventurers jacket, and a scientist garb. One look, and she knew that he didn’t do anything special with himself for this occasion, and the possibilities were that she would have to drag him to take a bath after because if Arlemis was right her husband haven’t left the lab in days.
She hugged, and kissed him with passion. “Let me guess cologne on sweat?”
“I’ll bathe with you after, I promise. I was seeing Len this morning in Ormuzutra; been a little busy.” He smiled at her, really happy to see her, and then looked at his friends.
“I'll go see him tomorrow with his uncle.” Arlemis said with a dash of sadness in her voice.
“Hey fags, getting snugly?” Lawrence closed his eyes; knowing that his wife would smack him, and yes it happened. “Ouch!”
“Guess working day in, and day out with two homosexuals haven’t helped you much Lawrence. Haven’t it?” Damien said.
“Two homosexuals? Where?” He looked around like an idiot.
“Or having me as your very close friend.” Damien came closer, and slapped his ass before hugging him.
“Not that close” Lawrence said. “Hey Damien, Ludo missed you terribly, didn’t said a word about it but I know he did, and Len have been asking for you for days.”
“I missed them too. Terribly. I need to go see the little puppy soon.”
“Damien don’t call my son a puppy…” Lawrence said.
“No hugs for me?” John asked a little disappointed.
“You are of no interest right now mister space pilot, you deliver packages to me 3 times a day.” Lawrence said before hugging him briefly. “We better get inside John Sheeris is waiting for you.”
“How does she look?” John asked.
“Outstandingly beautiful”
………….
Her form against the city landscape looked like an angelic apparition. Sheeris had been passing up, and down the same corridor next to the meeting room for the last hour or so, and even so not even a drop of sweat could be seen on her forehead. She stopped for a second before the wall sized window, and looked down at the city; it looked cool, and welcoming with its many colored light oversaturated against the night sky, an elaborate sacrifice that hides the night sky, and its stars.
To think all of this, all the work we have done to defend ourselves can be destroyed in a single night. All those people that are getting to us felt they had a chance to fight them, but in the end none of them could. Will we be able to withstand the dark when it dawns upon us? I really hope so. Even then if all fails I won’t give up, not now after all of these years.
“A long endless night.” She whispered.
In that instant the door behind her opened up gently, and Buta came in dressed in a very expensive suit, his weight had not changed much during the years but his eyes held a heavy load that wasn’t there years ago, and Sheeris knew this very well. She didn’t turn to see him.
“They are down in the lobby Sheeris, will be here any moment now.” He said as he stood next to her silently, and looked at the cityscape beyond.
Without looking she moved her left arm, and touched the side of his face with one hand. “You always were the most mature of us Buta.”
“The world gives us parts to play, and mine is a solemn one, yet, yours have changed during all this time, we have all changed. We had to.”
“Tell me Buta, did we lose something along the way waiting for the long dark?” She turns her head to see his dark eyes.
“I really don’t know, I don’t think any of us can tell the difference anymore.”
The other door opened up, and the rest of the group entered, and for a slight moment Buta smiled softly but that smile didn’t last long.
“Sheeris.” John said as he came to meet her.
She twirled her body with the grace only given to fey creatures, her white dress looked magnificent it was something out of a dream, and so taking her hand John kissed her gently before giving her a charming smile.
“You look beyond words, but yet, I’m not impressed.” John said, and the others looked at him with held breaths.
“John…” Sheeris began.
“Why should I be impressed? Every day I see you as beautiful no matter what you are wearing. You are always a delight to my eyes.” With these words she hugged him deeply, and for a long moment felt his heart against hers.
…………
The meeting room was built inside a central dome of gigantic size, and decorated with ancient artifacts around the circular walls, and on the ceiling a great crystal dome showing off the night sky. In the center a circular table lay littered with pizza boxes, and cans of soda. They all were there eating except for Ludo that had been absent.
“Now Buta can you tell me where Ludo is?” Damien asked after cleaning his mouth with a napkin.
“One moment.” Buta said as he pressed a pressure point in his suit, and spoke to someone thru a communicator in his suit. “Ready?” A moment of silence. “Yes we left you some pizza, ok we are going down now.”
The lights in the meeting room became dimmed as the floor began to rotate, and be lowered to another dome 10 times its size. Damien saw that it was Ludo’s lab or at least one of them; he had been here once; before the remodeling took place. Finally the floor stopped revolving, and stopped in the center of the room. Ludo was there beyond them facing one of the new warrior robots created by Lawrence, and him. The robot was in a fighting stance, and looking straight at Ludo as if it were to attack.
“Ludo, what’s happening?” Damien asked, but he was not answered instead the robot attacked with one of its huge metallic arms.
“Lock 14!” Ludo said.
Such an attack would have killed Ludo but seconds before they saw as a blue ring of energy surrounded him, and was concentrated around his feet, out of the blue lights, and glyphs came a torrent of wind that made Ludo be able to twirl kick his way out of the punch, and so land harmlessly 2 meters away from the robot. While still standing the robot moved both arms sickly towards him, and released two balls of fire to burn him to a crisp. The fire was inches away from his face.
“Ludo, run!!!” Sheeris screamed.
“Lock 2” From the space around of his arms came out an intense light as rings of light gathered around him, and waves of water came out in front of him, and washed the fire, and the robot into the floor.
“Lock 4” He said inches before the robot landed on the floor.
Red lines, and circles gathered on the floor around Ludo, and in mere seconds surrounded the robot. 4 seconds after the robot was pierced by a stone pike that came out of the floor, and vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. The torso of the robot warrior was still working so raising both arms the robot began to ready its machine guns.
Raising one arm Ludo sub vocalized something, and around his arm a line of glyphs, and numbers gathered. Out of nowhere a heavy machine gun was materialized on his arms, and within seconds he had destroyed the robot completely. He tossed the weapon towards his friends as he sub vocalized something, and the machine gun vanished before even reaching them.
Chapter 3
-Old Friends Never Die-
Loomis opened the main gates leading into Caul, behind him Arkia followed dressed in a hooded tunic adorned with golden runes near the end of the sleeves. It was easy to see from her hooded eyes that she was distressed. Something had woken Loomis in the middle of their resting hours, and he woke crying, and passing about like a mad man. Something in a dream had disturbed him, and he wasn’t ready to tell her what was really happening, he just got dressed, and left The Mirage Palace in charge of Sirius his second in command. All she could do was follow him across Valesty towards an astral gate.
“DarkBringer, please stop. What’s happening Loomis, what’s wrong?” She reached for his arm, and took it but even if he stopped he wouldn’t look at her directly.
“Something is wrong…I feel a presence, I’m feeling someone that is not supposed to be here, and what I’m feeling is so intense that is driving me mad, it is like a countdown, numbers going back to cero, and there is nothing I can do to stop them.”
“Loomis, calm down, tell me, who is this person you are feeling?”
“His name is J.P he was the first person I met when I arrived at Caul. Unlike you I had no one to guide me when I reached The Sea of Vanity, I had to come into this world alone, and even if I did was helped by an angel the first person that offered to me any kindness was him.”
“What happened to him?” Arkia asked as Loomis looked at her with his dark eyes full of tears.
“He found himself here in Caul because he was waiting for someone, he was waiting for a woman he fell in love with, and died for, they promised each other that they would wait for each other, and be together in the afterlife, and J.P kept his part of the bargain. He waited for hundreds of years for her here, and she never came for him, she forgot about him, and with each passing lifetime the feeling instead of love became a memory of love filled with longing, and pain to the point that the man that waited became like a dog watching a grave. There was no hope for him; The Order of Vestigial Light had to do something before he was consumed by grief. What they didn’t know was that I had become his friend; I was helping him to stand against the darkness but a day after I met him they took him, and gave him a mission to save or damn his soul. Find her, find her, and be reborn. No matter how long it takes to find her, wander the universe as a spirit until you find her, and once you do make her fall in love with you so she keeps her promise, if not your soul will be lost forever, and ever.”
“When was this Loomis?”
“Almost twenty years ago. I don’t understand.”
“It has been a long time; you have been gathering the fallen all of these years, wandering the universe for warriors for the last battle but you haven’t felt him? Nothing at all?”
“No, I haven’t, at times when I’m lonely I can feel him somehow, but not like this Arkia, this feeling has a sense of urgency I haven’t felt in a very long time, and I’m sure if I don’t do something, an event so horrible will dawn upon us that then it will be too late.”
“Let me help you.”
“This Arkia, this is something personal. I really don’t want to drag you into this, I have already wrong you enough in taking you here with me.”
“Loomis DarkBringer, don’t say that. You are all I have in this world, you know I haven’t been able to find my mother or father since I arrived, and you are the closest thing to family that I have here.”
“I will help you find them Arkia, I promise, and you are right, you are family but I don’t really want to hurt you, there are so many things I don’t know about me, dark things.”
“We all have our shadows Loomis, they are always there but in friends we find light. So, take my help now that you have it, and please don’t make me beg, after all I followed you all the way here from The Mirage Palace.”
“I’m sorry little one. I won’t keep you out again.” He said placing a hand on her hooded head.
“Don’t worry Loomis, now, where are we going?” She looked around Caul’s main hall; at the moment it was deserted, and a gentle smell of cedar could be smelled.
“The Hall of Emptiness, but first we must find where it is.” He said.
“The Hall of Emptiness?”
“Yes that’s the place they exiled J.P, the problem is that only The Order of Vestigial Light know where it is, and maybe The Brotherhood of the Scarlet Rose. I need to find Bruce.”
Bruce was in his study reading a mountain of old books when Loomis called at his door. Just outside of the door Arkia could tell it smelled heavily of tobacco leaf, and ink.
“Come in, and close the door behind you.”
“Master.” Loomis said as he came in, Arkia looked at the old man, and nodded before heading to stand against one of the corners of the room.
“Loomis DarkBringer, what brings you to Caul it has been weeks since you last brought Arkia to study? What have you been up too son?”
“We have been busy master Bruce.” Arkia said to him before looking at Loomis.
“We have been busy recruiting members. Blight and hopelessness have been exploding in the universe since the Olden Shadows began their attack on humanity, with so many deaths our job has been growing with each passing day.”
“Loomis, there are too many people dying, and not enough souls getting to this side. With the Olden Shadows there is no afterlife, only eternal death. We can’t do much from this side; our fellow humans can only fight this blight by themselves…we can only do what we can, influence them in dreams, and hope they can survive the long dark.” The old master looked at Loomis for the longest moment.
With his eyes closed Loomis tried to make peace in his mind. The Olden Shadows have made all worlds shift in the balance, and all of it was tied together to him, and Endy they had been there when Metreaus liberated them from their exile.
What if I could have done something to stop them? Endy would not be trapped inside the Soul of the World; he would be free instead of being trapped inside an endless limbo for who knows what purpose. Back then I was not as centered as I’m now, the shadows of my pasts still ate at me in silence, while Anthony was tormenting me Angus was losing himself as slowly, the countdown to the end had already begun without us knowing until it was too late. Now all there is left is to face the fact, and what is coming, till the very end of time.
“Master Bruce, I have come here in matters concerning John Popper.”
“John… What of John?” The old soul tamer looked concerned.
“I woke feeling his presence.”
“His presence? DarkBringer, what are you trying to say?”
“This was not me missing him, this was a call for help something is happening to him, and if I don’t help him something bad will happen.”
“Loomis, John last time I checked he has been this last twenty years looking for his love. He has been looking for her, and so far had no luck in finding her, almost as if she were running away from him.” Bruce said.
“That is cruel” Arkia said.
“Bruce I need to get to the Hall of Emptiness.”
“Why? What could you achieve by getting there? Last time he was there was years ago.” Bruce said while standing up. “Plus only the orders can get there.”
“Blindfold us if necessary Bruce, do as you will but I need to get there. I know I will be able to track him, and find him. I don’t know what I can do to help him my old tamer but if I don’t do something I will regret it later, and who knows what else is dangling from this event. Last time I ignored something the Olden Shadows were released by Metreaus. I can’t stand idly.”
Old Bruce looked down at his desk, and for the longest time played with an old ink pen he had, thinking about what to do, and what steps to take in this moment. Years ago Loomis came to him just like this, but back then he was seeking help in finding a way to break into the Soul of the World to get Endy out. Back then he couldn’t help, he knew little of the Soul of the World but something created by the divinity could not be tempered without expecting catastrophic side effects.
For me it was heartbreaking to know I could not help him get to Endy, but I could not risk another event like the one that happened with my brothers Metreaus, and Ansen but now it is different. I know I can help him find John, at least I can send him on his way before he loses himself into despair after all I love them both, John was very special to me, as especial as Loomis was; in them I could see true desire to learn about the universe, and everything there is to know. A good teacher knows when to learn, and when to teach, now is time to break the rules, and help the ones that need it.
“Loomis, I will speak to Lerian, and we will help you find him. We owe it to John. Meet me in the eating hall in a few hours.” He said in a neutral but damaged voice.
“Thank you Master.” Loomis bowed.
………..
Having your eyes blindfolded, and to be lead in the dark never gets comfortable, the mind starts making up images, and after a few minutes visions of pits, and snakes start to get into your head. The only way to be safe from these feelings is to be lead by someone you trust, someone that is holding your hand every step of the way, only then such an experience gets a little bit comfortable. To some, life is like that; a long walk in the dark, no hope beyond the lingering dark horizon. I hold on to Arkia’s arm gently, feeling her warmth against mine, and I try to comfort her as we are being taken to The Hall of Emptiness. To my side I can hear the distant call of one of the Crowlings; at times I can feel their touch upon me, a flap of feathers against cold stone, and a distant calling.
Within minutes of walking the feeling of stone, and wind was replaced with a constant gust, and a feeling of deep emptiness that Arkia had not felt in her life. She smelled the air, and it was cold, and smelled of cold stone with a dash of old urine; she wondered about that.
Feeling two gentle hands inside her hood her blindfold was taken away, and she saw Loomis looking at her gently. In his eyes she could feel so much, feelings she could not understand, feelings of loss so deep that they didn’t came close to the feelings she felt when she died.
I was lucky, or so Loomis told me when I first found myself on this side. All my memories from my previous life had been left unaltered unlike him that he had to remember them. No matter how much Loomis tried to explain it he couldn’t find an answer to this riddle, in the end he saw only one reason to it, and that being that I will need my old memories for something.
Looking around the hall she felt the many feeling being held by those walls, and the lack of any good ones, it was as if every single feeling that had taken place in that hall had been bad or bitter. Yet hidden behind many feelings, and layers, and layers of time she could feel a feeling, something way older than the rest of Caul, and she knew that feeling was bittersweet, and full of love. A pair of lovers had found this place to be both exile, and haven.
“This hall, it is very ancient.” Arkia said looking at the vaulted ceiling.
“By the gods, this place feels just exactly as last time I was here.”
“This Hall is the first room that was built in Caul, it is the foundation, and the last place that will stand when everything comes crumbling down in the end of time.” Bruce said after crouching on the floor, and passing a finger across the cold stone.
Beyond next to the portal of void stood guard two warrior Crowlings, and as Loomis looked at them they moved their visor covered faces to face him as if waiting for something.
“Loomis DarkBringer, now what? You have access to The Sea of Vanity, and now you stand on the last place you saw him. There are no guidelines to what you are trying to do or no clear outcome to what tomorrow will bring. From now on you are acting on your own.” Bruce said looking at the void gate beyond.
“DarkBringer…” A thundering ancient voice was heard echoing inside the hall, and hearing that voice the warrior Crowlings began to shriek, and were prostrated within seconds as in deep worship.
Bruce’s eyes grew wide as he fell to one knew, and lowered his head at the side of a very lean man wearing a winged mask, wooden arms, and dressed in pieces of black fabric. The man walked with a grace only given to cats, and then not even close to that, it was something out of this world that in no small words was hypnotizing.
“Lord Raziel, Master of secrets.” Bruce prostrated himself ever deeper. “I’m not worthy of being in your presence.”
“Raziel; The Angel of Secrets?” Loomis asked looking at the apparition as Arkia hid behind Loomis figure while capturing glances at the angel.
“Do not be afraid of me Arkia of Espers from Antare, I mean you no harm.” Hearing his words she stepped away from behind Loomis, and stood her ground next to him as she uncovered her head from her hood.
“So far you have done your job admirably DarkBringer; and you have kept your dark nature at bay. I’m very proud of you since you arrived here at Caul; my many eyes have been upon you.” As he said eyes Loomis became very aware of the Crowlings’ eyes.
“Lord, I have done as much as I could.” Loomis said lowering his torso.
“Do not prostrate before me DarkBringer; two greater beasts don’t pay worship to one another. I come here with map, and compass for the next steps in your journey for in that quest rides the fate of many.”
“You mean finding J.P?”
“Yes, his destiny is tied together to the lives of many, just like yours, and Arkia’s. This game of gods is a very brittle one; a single death can catapult thousands of millions into perdition. A single misstep can be catastrophic.”
“I understand, what are we to do?”
“Take this candle with you, and follow its path until you find its end, it will guide you to your friend. Arkia, after you both find him by all means you must lead him to The Tower of Arelist. Do anything you must to get him inside the tower before the alignment of the stars of Orion.”
“You mean he has been reincarnated? That can’t be.” Loomis asked.
“Yes, he is still a child of less than ten winters.”
“Ten winters, he has been alive, and living for the last ten years, and I had not noticed it.” Loomis looked at the ceiling, and closed his eyes as a gentle smile was drawn on his face.
“But what of his lover? Did she reincarnate close to him?” Arkia asked, and so making Loomis opened his eyes in awareness.
Did she reincarnate close to him? If not this will be his last lifetime, he won’t be able to reincarnate ever again if he doesn’t make her fall in love with him again, and follow him beyond. Now that I think about it if John is asking for me now after all of this years, even if he doesn’t remember me that means that something horrible must be happening to him. By the gods the feeling that woke me up was such a despair that I wanted to scream myself awake. J.P please hold on.
“Yes what of her?” Loomis asked with pleading eyes.
“If he is to get inside The Tower of Arelist he will surely have a chance to meet her, if he doesn’t he will surely die along with all the inhabitant of planet Earth, and what is left scattered of the human race, along with millions of alien species, the problem is that Arelist is under attack by the Olden Shadows. Somehow some cities have been surviving. Proceed with care, and see your friend safety inside the tower before it is too late.” The angel said before handing over the candle to Loomis that took it with shaking hands.